...Nobuhiro Matsuda has had a great two game stretch: 5-for-8, HBP, 2B, 3 HR, 5 R, 5 RBI, 2 SB.

...Tsuyoshi Wadastarted developing a blister on his left middle finger in the 4th inning during his start on Thursday. In the 5th inning, Wada realized that the blister was beginning to have an effect his slider -- it wasn't breaking as much and was beginning to look more like a cut fastball. Despite that, he managed to toss 6 shutout innings before being relieved in the 7th.

...Koji Akiyama apparently felt Nobuhiko Matsunaka was beginning to show signs of hesitation (in other words, he was looking a little lost) during his at bats and thought it would be best for him to return to Ni-gun for time to make adjustments and get back into hitting shape. Akiyama added that the demotion to Ni-gun had nothing to do with Matsunaka's legs. This is apparently the first time Matsunaka has ever been demoted due to poor performance since 1999.